Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-08

DEDrc ALTON OF THE NEW BAPTIST
CHURCH IN HARRIsoNBURa.-O Sunday
of last week, the new Baptist church in
Harrisonburg was dedicated. The Rock
ingham Register says
"On Sunday morning at 9 o'clock services
consisting Of concert of prayer for missions,
were held, led by Rev. T. Funk.
At IL O'Clock occurred the Dedicatory
Services. The house was filled with an at
tentive audience, and the exercises opened
with singing, followed with prayer by Rev.
@. F. Fry. A collection for missions was
then takeh up, from which $500 was real
lied. w. A. Whitescarver then gave a
brief history of the Baptist Church in Har-
risonburg, in which he stated that the
church had been established in 1867, by
Rev. j. E. Chambliss, at which time the
building now owned and occupied by the
Catholics, was purchased. About 10
months subsequently he (Whitescarver)
had been sent to this work by the State
Mission Board. Some difficulty arising
concerning the title to this property it had
been relinquished, and the New School
Presbyterian Church building on North
main street purchased. He spoke of the
very few members he found when he came
to the work, which grew during his pastor
ate to to number exceeding 40. Referred
to the faithfulness and devotion of these
few. He closed by introducing Rev. James
B. Taylor, D. D., of Lexington, who de-
livered the dedicatory sermon from the
thence 1--WE will remember thy love, -
recorded in the LIST chapter of the Songs of
Solomon, and part of the 4th verse.
The sermon was touching, tender and
able one, and the congregation listened
throughout with the closest attention, SYM
pathy and interest. At the close of the SER
mon it was announced by DR.. Taylor that
there was debt upon the church amount
ing to about $425.00, which he hoped to be
able to raise. A collection and subscrip-
ton was taken up, from which was realized
$251.S1. The dedicatory prayer-a very
fervent one-was then offered by Rev. John
81. Taylor, and the congregation dismissed.
A Sunday School mass-meeting, to which
all the schools of the town were invited,
was held at o'clock Sunday afternoon,
when appropriate addresses were delivered
by Rev. G. G.. Merryman and W. H. Pey-
ton, of Greenville, Augusta county; Geo. o.
Conrad, B. E. Long and J. P. Houck, of
Harrisonburg; Rev. T. Funk, of Singer
Glen, and Rev. W. A. Whitescarver, of
Waynesboro.
At night the Rev. G. G. Merryman,flled
the pulpit at the Baptist Church, Rev. John
H. Taylor, at the Presbyterian Church, and
DR.. James B. Taylor at the Methodist
Church.
The church which was dedicated is an
exceedingly substantial as well as an unu-
sually pretty edifice. 1t is constructed of
brick, on the Gothic plan of architecture,
and as DR.. Taylor truly said, is ga little
gen." The location is retired but most
convenient, and taken all together we do
not know of neater church. The lot up
on which it stands cost 100000, and the
building complete, including handsome
iron fence, about $500. The church
furniture, including carpet, chandeliers and
pulpit furniture, are all handsome and in
perfect taste, and were bought by the few
devoted ladies comprising the Sewing So
ciety of the church.
Rev. Geo. T. Gresham, the new pastor,
is native of Virginia, but came from South
Carolina. He will reside on East Market
street, near his church, in the property
owned by Mr.. D. R. Glenn. In connection
with his work here he will also serve the
churches at Bridgewater and Mt. Crawford.
He is an earnest, active, sincere christian
man, aud we have no doubt will be the in
strument in God hands for the accomplish
ment of much good in his work. We wish
him all possible success"